Let-off mechanism for looms



May 10, 1927.

R. M. HUGHES LET-OFF MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Oct. 24. 1925 Patented May 10, 1927.

1,628,546 PAT-TENT OFFICE.

ROLAND M. HUGHES, F CLINTON,-SO-UTH CAROLINA, ASSTGNOR OF QONEeHALF :TO RICHARD E. FERGUSON, OF CLINTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

9 LET-OFF, MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

' Applicationfiled octoberaa, 1925. Serial Naemas.

This im'ention :relates to'let-off mecha 'nisms for looms,'and' has'for one of its ob jects .to improve and simplify mechanisms of this character and toprovide one'which shall be especially adapted for use in connection with a warp beam carrying dec0- rative rayon or silk warp for cotton fabrics.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a top plan view illustrating the application of a let-off mechanism embodying my invention,

F igure 2 is a View inrear elevation of the parts shown in Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of said parts.

Corresponding andlike parts are referred to in the following description, and designated in the several views of the accompanying drawing, by similar reference characters.

In the drawing, 1 designates vertical stands which are fixed to the frame, not shown, of a loom in any suitable manner. The stands 1 are provided in their upper i ends with bearings 2 in which the trunnions 3 of a rayon or silk warp beam 4 are journaled' A friction pulley 5 is fixed to one of the journals 3, and wound one or more times about the same is a friction member or chain 6 one end of which is secured as at 7 to the adjacent stand 1. Horizontal brackets 8 are fixed as at 9 to and extend rearwardly from the stands 1. The brackets 8 are located immediately below the warp beam 4, and are provided at their rear ends with bearings 10 in which a rod 11 is journaled. Levers 12 are fixed as at 13 to and extend downwardly from the rod 11, and are provided at their lower ends with bearings in which a rod 15 is journaled. The rods 11 and 15 are arranged parallel with respect to each other and to the warp beam 4. A lever 16 fixed as at 17 to the rod 11, extends upwardly and forwardly from said rod, and is provided at its upper end with a hook 18 which engages a link of the friction chain 6. A lever 19 extends downwardly and thence forwardly from the rod 11, and is fixed thereto. A weight 21 is adjustable on the lever 19 in the direction of the length thereof,-and is secured iniad justed position by a set screw 22. I

The rayon or silk warp threads 23 pass from the warp beam lover the rod 11, un-

der the rod 15 upon which it exerts a forward pull, and thence to the harness of the loom. In decorating cotton fabrics with rayon or silk, it is necessary that the rayon or silk warp threads be woven ery slack in the cloth, and to attain this end the tension on the rayon or silk warp threads must be very light. Furthermore, as the rayon or silk warp threads are usually floated over several ends of cotton filling, the tension on the warp threads must remain constant, that is, the tension on the warp threads must when the harness, through which the warp is drawn, goes down be the same as the tension on the warp threads when the harness remains up in weaving the float. My let-off mechanism is adapted to provide the necessary light and constant tension required when decorating cotton fabrics with rayon and silk, and the manner in which it operates may be stated to be as follows: The weight 21 acting through the levers 19 and 12 and the rod 15, tensions the rayon or silk warp threads 23, and acting through the levers 19 and 16 tensions the chain 6. The tension on the warp threads 23 and chain 6 may regulated and controlled by adjusting the weight 21 along the length of the lever 19. Whenever the pull on the warp Rhreads 23 is great enough to overcome the force of the weight 21, the warp threads will, by reason of their contact with the rod 15, rock the lever 16 in an upward and rearward direction, with the result that the tension on the warp beam 4 is reduced. Whenever the pull on the warp threads 23 is reduced, the weight 21 will increase the tension on the warp beam 4: by causing the'lever 16 to move downwardly and forwardly. This operation of the let-off mechanism continues as long as the loom runs and the warp threads 23 are being unwound from the warp beam 4.

Although the let-off mechanism is shown and described in connection with a rayon or silk warp beam, it is to be understood that it may be used in connection with any and all warp beams for looms. While I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, it is to he understood that the mechanism shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may he made therein when desired as are within the scope of the invention as claimed.

\Vhat is claimed is:

A let-oil mechanism for looms comprising, in combination with a warp hemn, supports therefor and a friction pulley fixed to the warp beam, of horizontal brackets fixed to and extendin; rearwurdly from the supports immediately below the warp beam, at rod journaled in the rear ends of the brackets, a lever fixed to and extending upwardly and forwardly from the rod. and provided at its upper end with a hook, a friction chain passing about the pulley and seeured at one end to one of the supports and having its other end engaged with the hook oi":- the lever, a weighted lever fixed to and extend ing downwardly and thence forwardly from the roch levers fixed to and extending down from the rod, and a rod journaled in the lower ends of the last named levers for contaet with the warp threads.

In testimony whereof l aflix my signature.

ROLAND M, HUGHES. 

